History of Physics Group Archive
Minutes of Meetings 1999 - 2000

Minutes of the 12th AGM of the History of Physics Group

1. About 12 members were present. Apologies were received from, Lucy Gibson, Hugh Montgomery, Raj Williamson and Paul Holt.
2. The minutes of the 11th Annual General Meeting, held on 17th October 1997, were approved after correction of a typographical error and clarification of paragraph three that a more sympathetic attitude was needed from physicists outside the group.
3. There were no matters arising.
4. The Chairman reported on the activities of the group over the past year. A half-day meeting on Electromagnetic Fields, Past and Present, had preceded the previous Annual General Meeting in London. Professor Sir Joseph Rotblat had given an excellent evening lecture in London on 8th March. A well attended meeting on Aspects of the Relationship between Physics and Religion in London on 24th April had been repeated and expanded to an equally well-attended one-day meeting in Edinburgh on 18th September. The committee had met twice during the year, on 5th December and on 24th April. The Chairman paid tribute to the Newsletter editor, Lucy Gibson, and the website editor, Mike Thurlow, and also to the Honorary Secretary, who would be standing down after the AGM. The Chairman had also taken advice on a new Chairman (see below).
5. The Honorary Secretary reported that the committee had little to add to the Chairman's report. The group had a nominal membership of about 400, though the active membership, as always, was much smaller. The financial situation was sound, thanks to an increase in funding for all groups from the IOP. There was still some friction between the group and the IOP particularly over the rules for one-day meetings, and over charges for catering for Saturday meetings. The Secretary paid tribute to the Chairman who, although he was not standing down immediately, was likely to do so before the next AGM.
6. The Chairman, John Roche, said that Professor Ian Butterworth of Imperial College had agreed to be nominated as the next Chairman, but he would be unable to take up the post until April. Dr. Roche was prepared to remain Chairman until Professor Butterworth could take over. Sophie Duncan had agreed to take over as Honorary Secretary from Neil Brown. The other members of the committee (Robert Chivers, Christopher Green, Lucy Gibson (formerly Hudson), Stuart Leadstone, Hugh Montgomery, Christopher Ray, Peter Rowlands, and Mike Thurlow) were all willing to continue. Both John Roche and Neil Brown were prepared to remain as ordinary members. These proposals were all accepted by the meeting.
7. Stuart Leadstone commented on the recent meeting in Edinburgh, commenting particularly on the help received from Professor David Ritchie of the James Clerk Maxwell Foundation. The Chairman asked Duncan Bryant to talk about his recent book on the physics of the aurora, which was discussed as a possible topic for a future meeting. Peter Tyson raised the problems of access to meetings by non-members, and of publicity for meetings. It was the wish of the meeting to improve both, but some IOP procedures make it difficult. It was agreed that the committee should consider these questions again.

C. N. Brown
3 November, 1999

Minutes of Committee Meeting of the History of Physics Group

1. Those present were Professor Ian Butterworth (Chairman), Ms. Sophie Duncan (Honorary Secretary), Mr. Neil Brown, Dr. Christopher Green, Ms. Lucy Hudson, Dr. Hugh Montgomery, Dr. Christopher Ray, Dr. Peter Rowlands, and Dr. Mike Thurlow. Apologies had been received from Professor Robert Chivers and Mr. Stuart Leadstone.
2. The minutes were approved.
3. Two matters Arising from the meeting were noted. Dr John Walling had turned down the invitation to speak at an evening meeting. The Quantum Mechanics meeting had been very successful.
4. There was a fruitful discussion regarding whether meetings could be full or half-day. Full day meetings offer more opportunity for discussion, however practicalities meant it was not always possible to hold a full day meeting. Partnering with other groups, such as the education group were a good idea, and should be borne in mind when organizing specific meetings. Chris Green will look into the possibility of partnering with organizations such as the Royal Society when they hold meetings of interest to our members.
5. Chris Ray reported on the next meeting on Space, to be held on May 12 or 19. Jacquelyn Mitton, Robin Catchpole and Michael Green had been approached. Doug Millard, Jane Wess or Kevin Johnson from the Science Museum were suggested as a fourth speaker. Sophie Duncan would ask Doug Millard if he would like to participate. Sophie Duncan would investigate the possibility of holding the meeting in the Science Museum, and arrange for a tour of the Space Gallery. It was noted that the Royal Entomological Society in Queensgate could be hired for meetings, should the Science Museum not be available. It was suggested the Royal Astronomical Society may wish to sponsor the event.
6. Discussion regarding the October meeting 2001 centered on two possibilities, Nobel Prize winners (the first Nobel Prize being awarded in 1901) and Magnetism. Neil Brown would contact the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm. Peter Rowlands would investigate appropriate speakers, and Sophie Duncan agreed to do the administration. The controversy surrounding Nobel Prize awards, and the questions over whether the Nobel prizes biased history were noted as interesting points for discussion at the meeting. It was suggested that the meeting could also have a visit to the play 'Copenhagen' and Lucy Hudson would investigate this. It was agreed that Michael Frayn should be asked to speak.
   
   Should there be difficulties setting up this meeting it was decided that a concept meeting on Magnetism would be set up instead. John Roche, Jeff Hughes, Andy Warwick, Patricia Farah, David Caplin and Peter Williams were all suggested as possible speakers. There was a wide-ranging discussion over whether solid state physics should be included.
   
   The possible date for the meeting would be the 20 October 2001. It was noted that the AGM should be held before the meeting.

Suggestions for the 2002 meetings were:

• Radioactivity and the changing nature of the nucleus (1902 Rutherford transmutation of the nucleus)
• Dirac or Einstein - who made the most important contribution to 20th century physics? (Peter Rowlands)
• 'The usefulness of physics': Inventions that have changed the world (steel rope, triode valve, and transistor). (Chris Green)
• Controversy in technological developments - Internal Combustion engine and the greenhouse effect
• History of miniaturization
• History of the chronometer
• 1802 - Wheatstone's birth
• 1602 - Vacuum Physics
• 1752 - Franklin and lightning
• 1102 - Arabic Science
• 1901/1902 - Radio

It was noted that we should consider having more meetings outside of London. Oxford and Cambridge are popular. Holding repeat meetings in Edinburgh was very successful. A suggestion for a meeting in Dublin was popular. It was decided that Sophie Duncan should find out the number of embers of the group in Ireland, and approach them regarding the possibility of hosting a meeting there. It was suggested that a meeting on the history of physics in Ireland could be held there, and then brought to London too.

Virtual Meetings could compliment meetings being held. A time-limited discussion could be held on the internet in a shared space. The speakers could respond to any comments arising from the discussion at the end. Summaries of the papers would be put on the site before the meeting. Mike Thurlow would advise how this could be done, and the next concept meeting would be a good opportunity to try it out.

Lucy Hudson suggested celebrating Marconi's transmission across the Atlantic in 1901 with an evening lecture. Lucy would follow this up. Chris Green suggested the possibility of inviting Clive Baldark to speak at an evening lecture, on CAT Scanning and Egyptian Mummies.

Lucy Hudson reported that the newsletter was going well. Peter Rowlands agreed to write about the Poynting Blue Plaque in Manchester, and Stuart Leadstone was to contribute a tribute to the sterling work of John Roche. Ian Butterworth noted formal thanks for all the hard work he had done on behalf of the group.

Representation of the group at IOP Congress was discussed. While a day meeting seems unlikely to be well attended, an evening lecture, or a display seemed a valuable contribution to make.

Ian Butterworth thanked people for their response to the IOPs request for an archivist. Mike Thurlow and Bob Chivers had both volunteered.

Chris Green asked that a list of addresses of committee members be circulated. Sophie Duncan would check everyone was happy and send a list out.

The membership of the committee was discussed. Hugh Montgomery will stand down at the next AGM, and Sophie Duncan will stand down as secretary. It was agreed that we should try to encourage other people to be more involved. Suggestions of people who may wish to be on the committee included Raj Williamson, and Colin Hempstead.

Lucy Hudson and Sophie Duncan would investigate the possibility of setting up a historic walk in London. Chris Green would look into the possibility of setting up a residential weekend. Chris Ray to follow up the potential of having a schools lecture.

The next committee meeting could be held at 11.30 on 12/19 May alongside the Space Meeting. To be discussed.

Stored in the Archive 31 Oct 2001